Mitch's drafting has been great. I don't know who is doing the behind the scenes recommendations, but Mitch still had to pull the trigger. His FA track record is dismal. Maybe, possibly, hopefully Magic can be a better influence there. Can't be much worse than it's been.
They've paid 3 of 4. They gave up a 2013 1st round pick, 2013 2nd round pick and 2014 2nd round pick The pick that is top 3 protected this coming draft is the final one.
Well, let me explain what paying for really means: 1st Round pick in 2013 turned into Nemanja Nedovic for Phoenix. I don't even know if he is still in the league or ever was. Never heard of him. 2nd Round pick in 2013 turned into Alex Oriakhi for Phoenix. I don't even know if he is still in the league or ever was. never heard of him. Also, the 2013 draft quite possibly is the worst draft class in modern day NBA drafts. If the Greek Freak turns into a hall of famer, than they will be 2nd only to the 2000 NBA Draft. Currently in 1st in that department. And there was no one after those picks that anyone missed on. Hence, haven't paid for giving away those picks. 2014 2nd round pick turned into Johnny O'Bryant III. Yes, read above. Ironically the Lakers still got the best player in the 2nd round that year, Jordan Clarkson. This will truly be the most important one coming this year. I thought last year was but this year the draft is really strong and they need that pick for leverage or hopefully getting another young stud who can make an immediate impact. I don't think there is one so my thinking is he will get packaged if they happen to get it with some of the young guy we have who aren't named Russell or Ingram.
Yes, the players drafted with the picks the Lakers gave up haven't amounted to anything but they are most likely not who the Lakers would have drafted. I agree the 2013 NBA Draft wasn't great. It had some viable talent in the 1st round (Oladipo, Noel, McCollum, Adams, Greek Freak, Nogueira, Schroder, Gobert etc) but they were all gone by the #30 pick, so that's not really relevant to this discussion. There was some decent talent available at #30 though. Allen Crabbe was picked right after at #31 for example. Canaan and McCallum were decent guard prospects. At #57, the Lakers might have drafted someone who ultimately went undrafted. Guys like: Robert Covington. Seth Curry. Dewayne Dedmon. Matthew Dellavedova. This isn't to say the Lakers didn't have a shot to sign them as is but drafting them obviously would have given the Lakers a leg rather than having to compete with 29 other teams. At #36 in 2014, guys like Nikola Jokic, Jerami Grant. Glenn Robinson III, Dwight Powell were available. Look, the Lakers could have very well busted on all 3 picks as well - it's probable - but we've seen the Lakers do really well in recent years with late 1st round and 2nd round picks so I think there is a fair shot that 1 or maybe 2 might have amounted to something and maybe history is changed and the Lakers don't sign Mozgov or Deng because of the presence of one of these guys. Who knows. Also the Lakers obviously used those picks in a trade. If they weren't given to the Suns for Nash, they could have been trade assets in other trades. Again, who knows. The Lakers are paying for those picks in the sense that they lost them. It's a cost. It might not be the equivalent of losing a #4 or #5 pick like might happen this year but it's still the loss of an asset, one that has legit trade value. That the end result proved no value to the other team because their picks flopped doesn't change that.
While I respect your analysis, I do not put value in draft picks that don't amount to anything. Those players did nothing, therefore, those draft picks did not impact the Lakers from their current situation. Whether they have those picks or not, they are still in this position. Therefore, no value. It was worth the risk, didn't pan out and they didn't lose much. This coming draft could change that but right now, it hasn't made one iota of a difference.
Those draft picks that didn't amount to anything were made by another team and their front office. To extrapolate that reality to the Lakers - whose front office has had success with similar range picks in recent years - really doesn't make any sense. Different front office + Different team needs = Different selections + Different outcome on the picks. I'm not saying the Lakers' position right now as a whole would be different had they kept those picks but I can't agree with the stance that it absolutely without a doubt would be and thus declare the picks of no value/loss. That's just an untenable stance because we have no way of knowing what the Lakers would have done with the picks had they kept them. That right there, the loss of opportunity, shows there was value/loss.
Coincidence or perhaps suggestion from Magic to Luke during their first talk, besides possibly the "it's time for developing the young guys now" ..... that JC needed to get more minutes to recapture some of his seemingly declining early Lakers momentum? 29 minutes to Russell's 19. Leave him out there longer maybe to see if he can again become more effective at facilitating plus scoring? D'Angelo was playing well after clearly reading LakersBall opinions here that he's not a pass first guy and careless with the ball. Six assists, zero turnovers and decidedly not looking much for his own offense with 1 for only 4 shots taken. But Jordan got the big minutes tonight. Iron man Ingram with 32 minutes to lead everyone. This kid plays and attacks as if he already has the body and 230 lbs of a Kawhi Leonard. Bangs with anyone whether he loses the battle or not. Full tilt to his capabilities every game which become more and more polished .... reminds of Kobe with his belief in himself. No hesitation in taking and burying his first 3 pointer after 20 seconds earlier clanking his first free throw and air balling his second.
I hear you. Those 570 guys are generally big Laker haters ever since the move to ESPN. The Lakers were on 570 for 30 years and so there's a lot of bitterness on that station especially from Petros and Money who are now just completely insufferable. They're somehow worse than Marcellus and Kelvin.
Makes sense thanks for the info. I don't listen to them often but was flipping around when i heard them talking lakers.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...nson-shot-caller-los-angeles-lakers/97732992/ Sounds like bye bye Jim to me. He was also at the UCLA game tonight, possibly checking out Ball, if by another miracle we keep our pick.
